It seems NASA’s vision isn’t limited to just the stars, but to the skies here on Earth as well. That’s why late last year NASA awarded three contracts to teams with the goal of studying advanced concept designs for aircraft which could be ready to fly as early as 2025. The teams included Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and The Boeing Company.

NASA/Northrop Grumman

Final designs by the teams can’t just look pretty. They have to meet a stringent set of criteria set by NASA with the goals of less noise, cleaner exhaust emissions, and lower fuel use. Designs have to be able to fly up to 85 percent of the speed of sound, cover a range of approximately 7,000 miles and carry 50,000 to 100,000 pounds of payload. Payload can include either passengers or cargo. The last stipulation is that the final airplane design should be able to operate safely in a more modernized air traffic management system.

NASA/The Boeing Company

Each team provided an intitial design drawing they will be using as a basis for their work throughout the year. It’s very possible that the designs may change greatly from their initial concepts as more is learned about the feasibility of each of the aircraft proposed.

When we think of NASA it’s easy to simply think of initiatives around space travel. We sometimes forget that when it comes to advances in aeronautics the government agency has that mission as well. After all, they are called the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.